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I wish that we could somehow go back in time and observe how the early church worshiped. If we could do that it would change our lives, revolutionize our worship, and probably even convict us for our shallow, lifeless, half-hearted worship.
By definition, worship is ascribing worth to something or someone. But true worship is also a heartfelt expression of love, adoration,
admiration, wonder, and celebration. It’s something that happens in your heart and soul when you begin to praise God for who He is and thank Him for what He has done.
What happens when we worship?
The best way to illustrate what happens when we worship is to look at the worship experience of one Isaiah recorded in Isaiah 6.
1. Worship causes us to look upward.
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke (v.1–4).
Worship refocuses our view of God. It pulls our affections off everything else and puts them onto God. It causes us to remember how good He and how holy He is. We’ve made worship self-centered instead of God-centered. We lobby for what we want: ‘I don’t like the songs’, ‘I don’t like the volume’. It’s as if we’re worshiping worship instead of worshiping God. True worship directs our hearts upward; to God
2. Worship causes us to look inward.
“Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.” Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for” (v. 5–7).
When you see God for who He really is, as Isaiah did, you start to see yourself for who you really are. You start seeing things in your heart and in your life that really didn’t bother you before. But notice that after Isaiah saw and confessed his sinfulness, he also experienced the mercy, grace, and forgiveness of God. That’s what happens when you really worship.
3. Worship causes us to look outward.
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” (vs. 8 )
Richard Foster once said, “As worship begins in holy expectancy, it ends in holy obedience.” Genuine worship isn’t just singing songs and getting a good feeling in your heart. Genuine worship is seeing God for who He really is—His power, His greatness, His holiness, His sovereignty, His love, and His compassion—and then giving Him what He’s worth—the best of your time, your talents, your thoughts, your words, and your deeds. True worship is seeing afresh the tremendous worth of God and, in response, giving Him the best of everything you have.
May God grant all of us a true revival of worship.
1. ONE BOOK that changed your life: Being the Body by Charles Colson.
2. ONE BOOK that you have read more than once: On Being a Servant of God by Warren Wiersbe.
3. ONE BOOK that you would take on a desert island: The Bible. ESV version.
4. ONE BOOK that made you laugh: Any of the Uncle John Bathroom Readers. (Tip: Don’t ever buy one used on eBay).
5. ONE BOOK that made you cry: Animal Farm by George Orwell.
6. ONE BOOK that you wish had never been written: On the Origin of the Species by Charles Darwin.
7. ONE BOOK you are currently reading: The Sum of All Fears by Tom Clancy
8. ONE BOOK you have been meaning to read: The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas.
9. The ONE BOOK you most recently finished: Teaching to Change Lives by Howard Hendricks.
10. ONE BOOK you started but never finished: The Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard.
This is an excerpt from a conversation I had with a student in the learning center last week:
Student: I ain’t got none.
Me: Excuse me? Ain’t got none?
Student: Sorry. I ain’t got any.
I’ll think I’ll have him take a diagnostic test in English.
This is the title of a brand new series I am preaching in Teen Church on putting sin to death in our lives. The Bible makes it clear that in the process of becoming godly we have a responsibility as well.
1 Timothy 4:7, …train yourself for godliness (ESV).
Colossians 3:5, Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry (ESV).
Romans 8:13, For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live (ESV).
It’s high time we teach our young people not to tolerate ANY sin in their lives; they need to put it to death & quit playing with dead things! I’m enjoying the journey of teaching God’s Word to my teens. Any advice or insights would be appreciated.
God’s woes are better than the devil’s welcomes. —Charles Spurgeon
Every year I make a New Year’s resolution about losing weight. Every year I fail. I’m so tired of never keeping my resolution. So this year I’ve made a new one: I’m going to gain 10lbs! Finally a new year’s resolution I can keep!
I have become bored with blogging. Am I going to give it up? Not sure. But I’m too busy to feel the pressure of constantly updating this thing. So in the meantime check on when you feel like it & I’ll blog when I feel like it. In the meantime have a great day!!
